MP3: UN warns of surge in asylum seeker numbers

An UN official says countries must prepare for a surge in asylum seeker numbers in the weeks and months to come. The warning comes from Dr Jeff Crisp, head of policy and evaluation at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He says internationally, questions are raised about Australia's degree of 'panic' about asylum seekers. Source: abc.net.au

The president of the United States, Barack Obama, has vowed there'll be no retreat from the world in the face of the protests. He and the secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, honoured the four dead Americans in Libya, taking part in a solemn ceremony as their bodies were returned.

The former prime minister, John Howard faced a live audience on the ABC's Q and A programme last night, deftly answering questions about past and present politics and dodging the odd thrown shoe. One audience member, unhappy with Mr Howard's reply to questions, let fly with his footwear. The programme also saw the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, David Hicks make his first public appearance, albeit via video.

South African police have confirmed that the cricket commentator Peter Roebuck took his own life at a hotel in South Africa, but are refusing to comment on reports that police were questioning him about an alleged sexual assault shortly before his death.

Most smokers expect to put on around 2 kilos after they quit the habit. But new research shows the average weight gain in the first year of not smoking can be up to 5 kilos. Anti-smoking advocates are worried the findings might deter some people from giving up and they're urging people to take the plunge, saying the benefits far outweigh a few extra kilos.